MAC From Our Lips Collection – Lady Gaga & Cyndi Lauper for Viva Glam

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

MAC From Our Lips Collection – Lady Gaga & Cyndi Lauper for Viva Glam

Between us girls….you know you’ve got a sexy voice…use it! Let’s talk about the kind of relationships we want to have, and how to keep it safe, seductive and satisfying. And don’t forget, every cent from the sale of M·A·C VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass goes toward helping women, men and kids everywhere affected by HIV and AIDS. VIVA GLAM is the main source of funding for The M·A·C AIDS Fund. Our spokes models, makeup artists and entire M·A·C family are fiercely committed to the cause.

Viva Glam Bags are only available online and at MAC retail stores (freestanding/PRO) and limited to North America.

“I think it’s absolutely insane that some people have fewer rights than others, and I’m grateful that M·A·C has decided to focus on women while I’m a VIVA GLAM Spokesperson. I have so much to say and so much to share, and I’m going to let my lips and lipstick do the talking!” — Cyndi Lauper, M·A·C VIVA GLAM Spokesperson

“I’ve been familiar with the campaign and have been wearing M·A·C since I was ten years old. To be joining the likes of iconic former VIVA GLAM spokespeople is an honor. My new VIVA GLAM lipstick colour is amazing. It’s very me – a bluish pink, great for everyday, a little bit ’80s. I hope that women buy this lipstick, and honor themselves and honor the cause.” — Lady Gaga, M·A·C VIVA GLAM Spokesperson

Since the very early days of the AIDS epidemic, women have been heroes – as advocates, activists, healers, legislators, and program designers. These women have volunteered to join the fight and support people living with the virus, often because they had lost children, parents, friends or lovers to the disease, and because they felt they could make a difference. And they have.

In honor of all the women who are living with the virus and those working to curb its spread, the M·A·C AIDS Fund is pleased to announce $2.5 million in new donations to support efforts waged by women and on behalf of women. From Our Lips energizes women and answers the needs of an important, underserved population with HIV and AIDS.

From Our Lips focuses on global HIV hot spots like South Africa, the Caribbean and the United States’ rural South and Washington, D.C. It supports programs in regions that are confronting the complicated causes of HIV infection in women and girls: Violence, discrimination and unequal access to financial and social resources.

The initiative will encourage donor support and cast a media spotlight on the women who have been powerful heroes: those who help others cope with the illness, and those who are now underdogs in their efforts to fight HIV among themselves.

Check out the Lady Gaga & Cyndi Lauper Q&As…

Q&A WITH LADY GAGA

You used to sing to Cyndi Lauper as a little girl and now she is a big fan of yours. How does it feel to be working with her on the new M·A·C VIVA GLAM campaign?

She has such a beautiful spirit, and the best thing about her is that she’s a really genuine person. She gave me some pointers at the VIVA GLAM shoot. We have so much in common, and we just really enjoy one another. It’s surreal.

M·A·C VIVA GLAM Lipsticks and Lipglasses have raised over 150 million dollars for the M·A·C AIDS Fund to help people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. How do you feel about this?

I’ve been familiar with this campaign since it began, and I’ve always respected M·A·C for what it stands for – ALL AGES, ALL RACES, ALL SEXES. This is more than just makeup. Anything I can do to help raise money for HIV/AIDS awareness – that’s what I’m here for, and I’m very honored to be a part of this. You are very theatrical and creative in your performances and even create your own outfits.

How important is makeup to your performance?

I’ve been wearing M·A·C since I was 10 years old. I see vanity as a form of identity and lifestyle. M·A·C always has shocking and outrageous VIVA GLAM spokespeople.

How does it feel to join the likes of Boy George, Ru Paul, and Lil Kim?

To be joining the likes of iconic former VIVA GLAM spokespeople is an honor. I can’t believe I’m here. I am truly grateful and excited to do whatever I can for AIDS awareness.

You got your start performing on the club scene, which has a largely gay audience, and a part of the population that is very susceptible to HIV/AIDS. How do you think you can send a message to them about HIV/AIDS prevention or education?

Considering how rooted I am in the gay community and the deep respect I have for them, research and charity work for this cause is very important to me. By being vocal and raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and being as outspoken as possible on this subject we can raise awareness and protect the health of those we love. But it isn’t just the gay community. It’s all communities, and this is an important message to relay to the younger generation.

Women account for almost half of the HIV/AIDS cases around the world. You and Cyndi are both strong, vocal women, and the two of you create one very powerful voice. What would you say to young women today about HIV/AIDS?

Use protection, and be selective and strong about those you love. Your body is sacred, and it’s ok to say no. Make your partners get tested, go together: it will only make your relationship stronger and healthier.

You and Cyndi have seen two very different stages of the AIDS epidemic and the changes in the public’s perception of the disease. In the ’80s people were dying daily and today people with HIV/AIDS are living full lives. As a young person, do you think that today’s youth feel they are not at risk for the disease?

Certainly the public perception is very different now than it was in the ‘80s, because (and this is good news), we have more ways to control the virus today than we did before. However, this is precisely the reason VIVA GLAM is so important: were taking a commercial organization and using its values of strength and identity to raise CURRENT awareness in the EXISTING public sentiments about AIDS.

Tell us about your new VIVA GLAM lipstick/lipglass colour?

My new VIVA GLAM lipstick colour is amazing. It’s a bluish pink, great for everyday. It’s a little bit ‘80s, which is very me. It’s for the everyday woman – anyone can wear it and feel great about themselves and embody what VIVA GLAM is all about. I hope that women buy this lipstick, and honor themselves and honor the cause.

Q&A WITH CYNDI LAUPER

You are a music icon with fans from all over the world. You are a fan of Lady Gaga’s, and she is a big fan of yours. How does it feel to be doing a M·A·C VIVA GLAM campaign together?

I am really looking forward to it. Lady Gaga is the undisputed breakout star of the year, and I have been cheering for her. She’s a very cool and different artist. As far as working together on this campaign, we share a passion for fashion and music and performance. And yes, cosmetics. I think we are going to have a blast.

HIV/AIDS was ravaging the world in the early ’80s, a time when you were becoming one of the most important female singers in history. How did AIDS affect you during that time?

I lost a lot of dear friends to AIDS before we even knew what it was. People are still dying more than twenty years later, and we have to help find a cure.

The M·A·C AIDS Fund has supported numerous GLBT organizations around the world. You have also been a vocal advocate for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality and cofounded the True Colors Fund. What motivated you to do this?

I’m not a politician. I am just a mom who happens to have the benefit of being famous and can bring attention to something that is wrong and needs to be righted. I think standing up for one another is something that we all have to do. So that we all count. I want my son to live in a country free of bigotry and hatred. That won’t be possible until we all have the same rights – that one segment of our population isn’t given less so therefore can be treated as less, ya know?

What do you hope to bring to the VIVA GLAM campaign?

The VIVA GLAM campaign has always been amazing. I am thrilled to be part of it in 2010.

Tell us about your new VIVA GLAM Lipstick/Lipglass colour?

A really fabulous red…and it’s called Cyndi. How cool is that?

M·A·C VIVA GLAM Lipsticks and Lipglasses have raised over 150 Million dollars for the M·A·C AIDS Fund to help people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. How do you feel about this?

I am very proud to be involved with the M·A·C AIDS Fund, and I am very glad to lend my name and time to help raise money for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Women account for almost half of the HIV/AIDS cases around the world, and your new VIVA GLAM campaign will focus on helping women living with HIV/AIDS. You and Lady Gaga create one very powerful voice. What would you say to young women today about staying safe from HIV/AIDS?

Be smart, be careful, protect yourself, practice safe sex and look out for your sisters to make sure they are doing the same. But there are also huge populations of women in many places like South Africa and in the Congo who are becoming infected through rape. For them, I ask the world to stand up and get involved. They are all sisters, mothers and daughters, and they need our help.

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Hot damn there are makeup bags too? I haven’t even SEEN them and I want the Gaga one… but I don’t live in North America =[[

Christine, I’ve heard that the lipsticks are going to be available for 12 months, are the bags going to be the same or are they just standard limited edition? (I’m going to Canada this summer and would love to be able to pick one up)

I don’t know about the run of the bags yet, but I imagine they’re probably a bit more limited in nature (particularly since they have limited distribution – both geographically as well as what kind of stores).

Awesome awesome awesome. Need both lipsticks, for the color and for the cause! I love the Viva Glam Aids campaign, it’s so important that people are properly informed about this disease & that we find a cure.

Are these released at every MAC, or just actual stores, not counters? I just went to my MAC counter to buy these, and was told that they can’t release them until 03/18. Looks like I’ll be ordering online.

omg my friend n i had planned a trip to mac for friday but i dont know that i can wait that long! i really want viva la gaga…i hope it goes with my skin tone wat do you think christine? i’m latina so i have like honey colored skin i guess…i’m Tan in bare minerals

Lady Gaga is okay, but I looove Cyndi Lauper. She’s fantastic. I’ll probably get one of these, but I’ll have to actually take a look at them at the MAC counter. I don’t really wear red and I don’t often wear blue-pinks, either. Both colors sound very pretty, though.

Picked them both up today – Gaga seems more versatile right away. It looks great on it’s own, with Extra Amps Dazzleglass or over Magenta Lip Liner (they both look great over it actually). Also tried gaga with Currant Lip Pencil and it looked pretty cool – especially topped with Electric Fuchsia Lipglass (comes out tomorrow with the Spring collection).

Cyndi is a much more “looks good on everyone” color I think. It’s not as pigmented as the Gaga lipstick and comes off as a really dark pink or light red – Which is cool because I don’t have anything that looks like it – But it’s not a WOW color to me. I tried using it with a few lipliners but nothing really popped out at me. Same with lip glosses. It actually reminds me of a Lustre version of Impassioned lipstick (you can mix the two for a little more WOW factor – I liked them together).

The Gaga lipstick is more fun right away – Because it has a little more pop to it, but I actually think the Cyndi lipstick is much prettier – It’s a very accessible red that I think a lot of people could wear easily.

The only real “eek!” for me came when someone asked if they would ever record a duet together and after a very brief awkward moment Gaga said something like, “If it was in the spirit of this campain, yes.” And I thought to myself, “Giiiirl, you should be so lucky!” LOL!

Horrible question to ask though! It put them on the spot and any moron should know that an artist who’s “owned” by a major label can’t really say something like that on the air. But I believe that’s covered in my list of “101 Reasons Why Major Record Labels are Hazardous to Your Health.”

Am I the only one who noticed lady gagas face is edited? compared to the other images its completly different and looks akward and funny. I mean every other part of it is the same just not her face. Anyway i dont care because I love gaga and I cant wait for her lipstick!

Gaga is sold out on the site, just when I got the free shipping email code! I did find it on Nordstrom and Macy’s site. Ordered through Macy’s for less shipping. I hope the can fill the order before running out.

I asked about the bags at Valley Fair in Santa Clara, CA on the 18th and they said that they were already SOLD OUT of the bags! They lady said they were all sold in presales. Do you know anyother stores that would have them in the Bay Area?